Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made the cost of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers above their £6.2 billion approved budget; and how much of that additional amount will fall on (a) the public purse, (b) his Department's budget and (c) contractors.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 71204 on 25 April 2017 to the hon. Member for Mid Sussex (Nicholas Soames).

Any variation in price below or above the £6.2 billion approved cost of the programme will be shared equally by the Ministry of Defence and industry.